Articles
This article was reprinted from The Norseman, November 1993, pp. 20-21. Copyright
© 1993 by Rachel Christ.
Last year, the Norwegian Teachers Association of North America (NTANA) announced
an essay contest for college and university students in North America. The essays
should cover the benefits and positive aspects of majoring in Norwegian. Judges
were the executive committee of the NTANA and Bjorn Kanavin, Director of the
Norwegian Information Service in North America. Rachel Christ was the winner of
the contest, and her essay was published in the February, 1993 issue of the
Norwegian Teacher's Newsletter. We take pleasure in sharing it with our readers as
well.
Why should I major in Norwegian?
"You're majoring in what!??...Norwegian? Why?" As a college junior, I am inevitably
asked about my major(s). Only rarely does anyone react to the fact that my other
major is German; somehow German is automatically viewed as useful or acceptable,
even if only to teach high school language. Majoring in Norwegian is exotic and
frivolous, somewhat like majoring in Underwater Basketweaving.
I have unfortunately become used to justifying and defending my Norwegian Major.
It is all too easy to use my Norwegian Heritage as an excuse for my interest in
Norway, a land of only 4.2 million people. Why else would I want to study about a
country most Americans believe to be the capital of Sweden? If I take the time to
explain my real motivation, the more accurate response is that the country, the
people, the nature, and the culture fascinate me.
A knowledge of the Norwegian language has given me access not only to Norway,
but also to Sweden and Denmark, countries with closely related languages. I can
read the literature of such great authors as Ibsen and Kirkegaard in their original
language, giving me a much better appreciation of the texts. Literature in translation
inevitably loses some of the colorful nuances in an effort to retain literal accuracy.
I am also able to complete research with materials available only in Norwegian. One
example of the many highly current research topics is the Barent Sea area. This was
once a region of flourishing international trade. Russenorsk, a pidgin language of
Russian and Norwegian facilitated trade. The Barent Sea Region is being recreated
as an area of both economic and ecological interest.
The Norwegian people have maintained a rich and diverse culture which has
extended well over the last thousand years. When I mention my Norwegian major to
others, one of the first comments is usually in reference to the ruthless Viking
warriors who raped and pillaged throughout Europe. Easily forgotten are the
incredible achievements of this period. In open wooden boats, the Vikings discovered
and temporarily settled North America. Many of the large cities on the west coast of
Ireland can be traced back to Viking settlements. The infamous Normans of 1066
trace their very existence to Rollo, also known as the Viking Ganger-Rolf. Vikings
even formed a sort of royal guard in Byzantium; the runic inscriptions are still to be
found today.
The Viking Age may have been Norway's great expansionist period, but certainly was
not the end of Norwegian culture. In more recent times, Norway has produced many
world-class artists. From the writings of Ibsen, Bjornson, and Hamsun to the
paintings of Munch and the sculpture of Vigeland, Norway has contributed to the
quality of fine arts at the international level, spreading more peaceful contact than
their forefathers.
1993 is a year in celebration of Edvard Grieg, Norway's foremost composer. Grieg's
music has been strongly influenced by Norwegian culture and traditions. For
example, the first notes of "Morning" correspond to the tuning of the drone strings
on a Hardanger fiddle. Perhaps the greatest influence upon Grieg was the
overwhelming nature of the western coast of Norway. While many picturebooks
celebrate the beauty of this region, their pictures portray an image of carefree
summer, neglecting the harsh reality of life during the fall and winter months. One
must experience Vestlandet in the winter to understand the foreboding sense of
gloom and immanent danger present in the fjords. This dark side of Norway surely
influenced Grieg as much as the summer.
Students of any academic discipline can explore their specific areas while also
studying for a Norwegian Major. Historians can explore the Viking period, or look at
the effects of WWII from a new angle. Archaeologists can explore the movement of
pre-historic peoples into the northern fringes of Europe. Norway has a thriving
modern literary culture as well as having produced some of the literary giants of the
19th century. Each region of Norway has developed its own unique dialect, and on
the national level, Norway has two standardized forms of the Norwegian language,
giving linguists a broad spectrum of material to work with. Musicians can study the
diverse folk music traditions of this country, from the sung kved to the various
instruments, including the hardanger fiddle. Or they may wish to study the
distinctive Norwegian influence in the music of Grieg.
A Norwegian Major is easily combined with other majors, such as economics or
history, creating a unique and specialized course of study. Mastery of another culture
and language is quickly becoming a requisite job skill for graduating college
students. A Norwegian major is a valuable asset; not only is it unique, it gives any
potential employee a unique perspective on international relations and the role
small countries must play in international relations. Norway is a relatively small
country and yet plays an important and active role in the United Nations and
international relations. When I am asked why on earth I am majoring in Norwegian,
I must respond, "Why not?" My Norwegian Major has given me much useful
background knowledge about a fascinating country, while allowing me to explore my
personal interests and challenge myself academically.
Exhibit:
Becoming Edvard Munch: Influence, Anxiety, and Myth
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/exhibitions/Munch/index
Norwegian painter and printmaker Edvard Munch.
This new exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago is based
on recent research that examined Munch's diaries and letters in
conjunction with his artwork, to reveal an artist very much in charge
of his image, who carefully constructed his own myth.
Read about the themes of: isolation and influence, the Interior, the
Street, Anxiety, Nature. See a collection of his works. Follow a chronology
of his life.
Get a daily email from "Norden i dag." - an interesting article about inter
Nordic language understanding among youth. Read the article here:
http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?lang=6&id=8164 (in English)
http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?id=8164&lang=1 (på norsk)
http://www.lovdata.no/all/nl-18140517-000.html - Norway's constitution (norsk)
http://www.geocities.com/dagtho/grunnloven.html - Norway's constitution in Eng, Fr, Ger, Sp.
Norway, a small country with two written languages (End):
http://www.bergen-guide.com/405.htm
http://www.govtilr.org/PapersArchive/TESOL03ReadingFull.htm - language learning report.
http://www.geocities.com/birgerro2002/Motiv_Highway/villeveg.htm - Norway's roads; photos.
http://www.nrk.no/programmer/sider/typisk_norsk/ - 'Typisk Norsk' TV program - 2/5/06 program about the Norwegian language in America - what kind of Norwegian; is it still spoken?
Diversity versus difference: Neo-liberalism in the minority debate - article (Eng)
http://folk.uio.no/geirthe/Diversity.html
http://www.norway.org/News/archive/2000/2000101ethnic.htm - article (Eng)
Norway - a multi-ethnic country
Some analytical dimensions of cultural complexity - artikkel
http://www.culcom.uio.no/publikasjoner/THE-complexity.html
Cultural complexity in the new Norway - article (Eng)
http://www.culcom.uio.no/index-eng.html
Microsoft skal 'support' nynorsk! Les artikkelen. (Eng)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2615363.stm
http://folk.uio.no/geirthe/Fortnight.html - (Eng) Article on The Pakastani Norwegians
http://www.amren.com/mtnews/archives/2006/02/norwegian_muslims_want_blasphe.php
(Eng) Article - Muslims in Norway want blasphemy law - Response to cartoons - includes feedback from readers.
http://www.lydbokforlaget.no/katalog/boker/barn/8242119929.html - Sissel Chipman's fantasy, Janaland. Read about S. Chipman and see list of her other books.
http://ped.lex.no/ - Schools and courses/subjects in Norway
Transferable skills project - Stages of language learning. (Eng)
http://www.skillsproject.ie/downloads/pdfs/Transferable%20Skills%20case%20study%20report.pdf
Norse Sagas: (Eng)
http://omacl.org/Heimskringla/index.html
Sagas: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/tarristi/sagas.htm (Eng)
Avaldsnes - Home of Early Kings: (Eng/Nor) http://nordvegen.info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Norse_gods - Norse Gods
http://www.dokpro.uio.no/ - dokumentasjons-prosjekt; Archived collection of papers on history, language, culture, folklore, archaeology, ordboker, etc.
Språknytt article about compounding words.
http://sprakrad.no/Toppmeny/Publikasjoner/Spraaknytt/Spraknytt-12009/Ord-ord-og-ord/
Article about the status of Danish in the EU and Nordic community. (Eng):
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/commentary/142-commentary/45012-intolerant-uniformation-threatens-danish.html
Dagbladet Magasinet article about a shipwreck
which occured in Norway in 1903. A monument is
being put at the site. "Hyller havets helter" A True story
http://www.dagbladet.no/magasinet/2003/11/03/382531.html
The Norwegian Flag - http://www.forskning.no/Artikler/2002/mai/1021377100.6
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/no.html
married, samboer, refugees, asylum seekers?? rights to free classes?
http://www.velkommenoslo.no/norskopplaering_og_kvalifisering/rett_og_plikt.htm
Artikkel om forandringer i norsk språk under året 2006:
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/kultur/1.1557019
http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=9042797 - Short article on the finding of a tunnel that Robin Hood used in his endeavor to steal from the rich and give to the poor.
En morsom episode med en hauk i Trondheim
les mer om -- og se bilder:
http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/article.jhtml?articleID=415431
http://www.adressa.no/trondheim/article.jhtml?articleID=415616
http://www.vg.no/vg/96/anm/vin/1207akevitt.html - Read about Akevitt.
Vintersolverv - the shortest day of the year:
Read from CAPLEX about vintersolverv
http://www.caplex.no/Web/ArticleView.aspx?id=9340285
Traditional 'nisse', trolls, in Norway -
http://www.sa.dk/sa/godehistorier/jul/nisse/kodran.htm
About trolls:
http://oldwww.sa.dk/temaer_til_inspiration/jul/nisse/default.htm
Nisse, trolls:
http://iespaz-andradecomeni.tripod.com/lendanoruega.htm
http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/norse-mythology.php?deity=KVASIR
Gods of Norse Mythology (English) 200+ gods to read about.
The Sunburg Cafe in Minnesota, where Norwegian is alive.
http://news.mpr.org/features/200212/19_postt_oldnorske/
Fastelavn: Literally: the evening before fast/Lent; festive event.
http://fuv.hivolda.no/prosjekt/fuvelin/fastelav.htm
Nå har De fått nok - Using 'De'
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2382160.ece
the use of De and du is found at
http://www.aftenposten.no/ekspertene/spraak/?action=question&id=1993
-- by Per Egil Hegge
- http://www.bergen-guide.com/405(Eng) - Norway, a small country with two written languages (Eng) -
about Bokmål and Nynorsk.
Forstår skandinaviske leger hverandre?(Nor)
(Do scandinavian doctors understand each other?)
http://ltarkiv.lakartidningen.se/2001/temp/pda23401.pdf
http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2005/07/danes_plan_to_o.html
An interesting article that also touches on the old Norwegian naming systems.
CNN: The Insider's Guide to Norway (Eng)- article
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/11/09/insider.norway/index.html
Norwegian Christmas in the UK:
http://www.norway.org.uk/christmas/
Article - Christmas in Norway (Eng)
http://www.recipezaar.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=288623
Article about livemocha.com, chinesepod.com, and spanishpod.com; learning languages through email chatting with tutors/natives. (unfortunately, no Norwegian)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/business/17novel.html?ex=1204174800&en=974b57f6e433c1c5&ei=5070&emc=eta1
PENGUIN KNIGHTED:
Har dere hørt om pingvinen Nils Olaf, som i går
ble adlet?
Du får lese om Sir Nils Olaf på
nettstedet ovenpå.
http://www.dagsavisen.no/utenriks/article364166.ece
English -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7562773.stm
SHOULD STUDENTS LEARN SHAKESPEARE?:
An article in Teknisk Ukeblad,
http://www.tu.no/karriere/article175806.ece
KJ AND SKJ SOUNDS:
The problem is that they pronounce all words starting
with kj- with a skj-sound.
An article from the U of Oslo (in Norwegian),
http://www.apollon.uio.no/vis/art/2005/2/lyder-sj
Use/Misuse of "å" and "og":
http://forum.united.no/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=598&start=0
http://www.korrekturavdelingen.no/K4OGellerAA.htm
The Education-Training Magasine:(Nor)
http://www.utdanningsmagasinet.no/
Information about studying in Norway, studying outside of Norway - both include lists of schools; study techniques, finance, many subject areas, etc.
Houston (Texas) Chronicle Article:
For Norway, Houston is Oslo on the bayou / Many from Scandinavian nation, which has a major oil industry, are finding opportunities in Texas
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2008_4610819
Early history of Norwegian settlement in Texas:
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/WW/fwa5.html
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=156171
http://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/NN/ptn1.html
Ellis Island Search:
Type passenger's name in search to find information, photos, records.
http://www.ellisisland.org:80/search/passSearch.asp?
Amundsen and Scott at the Southpole, with audio and photos:
http://www.nb.no/southpole/
Article about livemocha.com, chinesepod.com, and spanishpod.com; learning languages through email chatting with tutors/natives. (unfortunately, no Norwegian)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/business/17novel.html?ex=1204174800&en=974b57f6e433c1c5&ei=5070&emc=eta1
The Newsletter 'Analysnorden'
from the Nordic Council
-- and several
other newsletters described below, and you can
subscribe (free) here:
http://www.norden.org/tilmelding/sk/index.asp
Article: 'Norge trives nesten med krisen'
"... it looks like Norway can get through the financial crisis rather well...."
The article from Analysnorden is at:
http://www.analysnorden.org/analysnorden/artikkel.asp?id=853&ref_source=an_sk&ref_type=nl&ref_id=18-12-2008
The Norwegian Blog: a series of frequently published articles about Norwegian language and culture.
http://dr.bluehornet.com/ct/2690263:2724552962:m:1:177097706:121AAD91D1CC244D157E785C42249EC5
The End of Marriage in Scandinavia. MARRIAGE IS SLOWLY DYING IN SCANDINAVIA.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/660zypwj.asp
Thriving Norway Provides an Economics Lesson : The global financial crisis has brought low the economies
of just about every country on earth. But not Norway.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/business/global/14frugal.html?_r=1&em
https://bora.uib.no/
the Bergen Open Research Archive (BORA)
BORA is an institutional repository containing scientific and research related material from the University
of Bergen. Here you will find full-text peer-reviewed journal articles, theses, dissertations and other digital research materials.
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